Sunday, October 29, 2017

Giving Thanks

Can you believe that this week already begins the month of November? Time has just flown by.

This month, with our students and staff, we really want to focus on the message of giving thanks.  Of even in the midst of pain, struggles, overwhelming deadlines, stress, and more, that we find ways to give thanks for what we do have.

I will always remember hearing that a weak minded person only complains and find faults because it is easy to to.  But a strong minded person sees the mistakes and still seeks to find the good however small it may be, and bring about change.

Week at a Glance

Monday - Thomas and Jackson Out
Tuesday - Dress Up as Your Favorite Book Character Day
Mix it Up at Lunch Day
PreK Field Trip
Book Study Meeting - 3:45pm
Wednesday - Math Vertical Meeting - 3:30pm - Library
PTO Meeting - 5:30pm
Thursday - Community Outreach Committee Meeting - 3:45pm - Library
Friday - House Meetings in PLC time
Saturday - November Staff Outing - Escape Room

Look For...

This week in our walkthroughs, we're going to be focusing on Dimension 1.4 Planning; Activities.

• Questions that encourage all students to engage in complex, higher-order thinking. • Instructional groups based on the needs of all students. • All students understanding their individual roles within instructional groups. • Activities, resources, technology and instructional materials that are all aligned to instructional purposes.

Mix It Up at Lunch Day

This is a Nationally celebrated event that we will be taking part in.  Jennifer will be sending out more information tonight or tomorrow.  It's an opportunity for students to sit with people they may not have normally sat with and make new friends!

Halloween

Remind your students that they may dress up for Halloween at school, BUT it must be based after a book character and they need to bring the book with them. We'd also love to see as many staff dressed up as possible too!

Book Study Meeting

This Tuesday we will have TWO book study meetings going on.  Ms. Short and Ms. Argueta will be leading the PreK/1/3/5 Group over the rest of the book.

I will be leading the K/2/4/Others group over pages 88-137.

Remember that the K/2/4/Other group was rescheduled from our staff meeting day. So that group will also meet again next week to get to the end of the book before our final meeting as a whole staff.

Birthdays

Jeanette Enriquez - October 30
Kevin Bradford - October 31
Carolyn Hafley - November 3

House Meetings

This Friday during PLCs we will have House Meetings.  I will be getting you information early this week about what that time will look like.  We will be focusing on a different character trait each month we have these meetings,.

PLCs This Week

Be ready to talk DATA!! How you're tracking kids, where are we losing them, how are we helping all students, etc.  3rd-5th needs to bring their 9 weeks assessment data ready to discuss. If you need help on pulling data from Eduphoria let me know.

Morning Car Duty

Monday - 2nd Grade
Tuesday - 5th Grade
Wednesday - 2nd Grade
Thursday - 5th Grade
Friday - 1st Grade

Kids Deserve It

Here is this week's episode with Derek McCoy


Blogs/Articles




In Closing....

As educators, one of the worst things we can say is "no one taught me that".  We live in a world now where everything is available to us to learn at a moments notice.  Whether we reach out to someone to help, or we watch a YouTube video, or we read an article.  There is so much information now!  And our kids are watching.  If we're going to ask them to show up and work hard to learn something new every day, we must be doing the same! Yes, even when the learning is hard and complicated and frustrating and we feel like we need our own IEP!  Let's keep all learning together!




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Sunday, October 22, 2017

A Time To Share

Parent/Teacher Conference week is always in my top 3 weeks of the year! I love the opportunity to not only see so many parents on campus, but also the chance we all get to share the success (and struggles) of our kiddos!

As we enter this week I hope you remember a few things...

1.  Always share the great things about their child.  You're discussing their whole world.  It is crushing as a parent to come in and hear nothing except that their child is a dormant learner.

2.  Use the vocabulary we've been taught.  Dormant, awakening, growing, things like that.

3.  Invite the child to the conferences.  Allow the child to share their thoughts and feelings and struggles and successes.

4.  MAKE HOME VISITS.  I have talked about this time and time and time again.  Yet I still always have teachers who have told me "I can't get a hold of someone." or "They won't come in".  Let's not be a team that settles. Let's go above and beyond to do what's best for our kids.  And face to face convos are always best.

5.  Uncomfortable? Nervous? That's ok! Invite one of us admin to sit in.

6.  Smile. Always be polite.  Speak kindly.

7. And most of all, hear them out.

Week at a Glance

Monday - Staff Inservice
8:00am-12:00pm - P/T Conferences and Work Around Campus
12:00-1:00pm - Lunch
1:00-4:00pm - Staff PD at NHS
Tuesday - Red Ribbon Week Starts
Student Council Officer Field Trip
Aladdin Musical Review - 5pm
Wednesday - Fire Drill
Unity Day - National Anti-Bullying Day
Thursday - Nesloney Off Campus from 9:30-12:30
Hot Dog Cookout - 5:30pm - Laredo Heights
Friday - House Games - Red Out

Look For....

This week's walkthrough look-fors is for good questioning and students standing to answer in complete sentences.

Staff PD

On Monday, if you're a certified teacher, you will be at the High School attending sessions.  I have emailed you what you're assigned to attend. If you did not receive an email, you have full choice.  Please be on time and make sure you sign in.

Aladdin

We hope you can help us talk up, and attend, the Aladdin Musical Review on Tuesday night at 5pm in the Webb Cafeteria!

Hot Dogs

Thursday we'll do our bi-annual Hot Dog cookout at Laredo Heights! We hope to see you there! And yes, you can bring your own personal families!

House Games

With this being Red Ribbon Week, and with Friday being "Red Out" day and also House Games, we thought it'd be pretty neat to tell all our kids to wear RED and NOT their house colors to show unity as one school.  So, tell your kiddos!

Birthdays

Lauren Neutzler - Oct 24

PLCs this week

This week for PLCs you will have that time for P/T Conferences.

Tuesday - Third Grade
Kinder
Wednesday - 2nd and 4th and 5th
Thursday - PreK, 1st

Morning Car Duty

Tuesday - 3rd
Wednesday - 4th
Thursday - PreK
Friday - 5th

Kids Deserve It

This weeks chat is with Barbara Bray.


Blogger/Article





In Closing...

I want to leave you with one video that has gone viral this week.  It deals with the idea of not standing up when we know better.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.



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Sunday, October 15, 2017

New Day

I love waking up in the morning.  I know it sounds weird, but I love the morning.  I think it's because I know that with the rise of a new dawn, that means we get second chances, new opportunities, and fresh starts.  But I also get excited because as an educator, I know that means I get to head to a building where WE also give our students (and families) second chances, new opportunities, and fresh starts.

Week at a Glance

Monday - Argueta and Short at Conference
Bus Driver Appreciation Day
Staff Meeting - 3:45pm - Cafeteria
Book Talk - 4:15pm - Cafeteria - K/2/4/Other Teachers (pg 88-137)
School Board Meeting - 6:30pm - Board Room
Tuesday - Argueta and Short at Conference
Nesloney at Principal Meeting from 9:00-10:30am
Community Outreach Meeting - 3:45pm - Library
Wednesday - Team Leader Meeting - 7am
RTI Meetings Begin
Bus Safety Day - All students go to PE for camp
Reading Vertical Meeting - 3:30pm - Library
RCA Team Meeting - 3:45pm - Reynold's Room
Yearbook Committee Meeting - 3:45pm - TP Room
Thursday - Nesloney and Short at District Office
Friday - National Writing Day
End of Report Card 1 Grading Period (Grades due at Midnight Sunday)
Nesloney at Central Office Meeting - 3:00-4:00pm
Football Game - 7:00pm
Saturday - EdCamp College Station

Look For...

This week for walk-throughs we are going to be looking for classroom greeters and questioning skills.  We want to see the types of questions you're asking students to be more than just basic, surface level, repeat information, questions.

Admin Out

There will be different times throughout the week that admin are out (including counselors).  Please be patient with us this week :-)

Staff Meeting

We have a staff meeting on Monday. It is important that you bring a pumpkin (real or fake) to the meeting.  We will be decorating them at the meeting. DO NOT bring any pre-decorated pumpkins.  K/2/4/and our Other Areas teachers need to be ready to discuss their chapters from "Disrupting Thinking" as well.

National Writing Day

National Writing Day is this Friday! Let's find some fun ways to celebrate this day with our students!

Report Cards

Remember that this is the final week to put in grades for report cards.  Remember that no averages should fall below a 68.  PE and Music teachers need to remember to put in grades as well!

EdCamp College Station

EdCamp College Station is this Saturday. It's a FREE half-day learning event that should be fantastic! Hope you can make it.  Register HERE.

RTI Meetings

We will begin RTI meetings this week.  I will be emailing teachers about their meeting times on Wednesday and Friday.  You will need to bring the following documentation with you (depending on your subject) concerning the students we'd like to move tiers.

F&P Scores
Istation Scores (reading and math)
Study Island info
MAP Results
In Class Data
Unit Assessment Data
Notes from their current Interventions

Birthdays


October 16 - Courtney Moore


PLCs

For PLCs this week K-2 will be covering expectations, CHAMPS, and more interventions.  3-5 will be covering MAP data.

Morning Car Duty

Monday - first grade
Tuesday - fourth grade
Wednesday - first grade
Thursday - fourth grade
Friday - fifth grade

Kids Deserve It

Here is this week's episode featuring Leslie Kinard and tomorrow is the last day to get any KDI gear for this month! Get it HERE.


Blogs/Articles



In Closing...

As I sit and read through the edits of "Stories from Webb", I'm quickly reminded of the brilliance that exists on this team.  So many of you chose to share a story (or two) and they truly make this book something special.  I can't wait for all of you to see the finished product!  The end of December can't get here soon enough!

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Sunday, October 8, 2017

We Show Up

Being in education is hard.  It's physically, emotionally, and yes even spiritually draining.  Being an educator is more than just showing up at work to do a job. Every one of us knows that.  We work hours well past what our contracts say.  We put in more of our own money than probably any other career.  And we cry, laugh, get upset, have our hearts broken, smile, and pray over these kids on an daily basis.

And that can wear on you.  It can make getting out of bed some days really tough.  It can cause you to doubt your impact.  It can take a toll.

So why do we stay in a field that drains us? Why do we continue showing up day after day when it often feels like we're doing nothing except for spinning our wheels and getting more added to our already overflowing plates?

We do it because of those tiny bodies. Those children who show up every day with no other expectation than, "I hope my teacher is here today".

We show up for that little girl who comes to school smiling because she knows it's the only place she's going to get a hug.

We show up for that child whose only 2 meals a day are the ones they get for breakfast and lunch (and the extra food someone may send home with them).

We show up for the little boy who knows he has to get an education so he can earn a living to help support those he loves.

We show up for that 4th grader who is told how worthless and stupid she is, at home every day.  How she shows up knowing that teacher will tell her how worthy and loved she is.

We show up to see the lightbulb moment when a child finally gets a concept they've been struggling with for weeks.

We show up because we know we have that little one who runs into school with yet another story to share from the magical book they're reading.

We show up because we have colleagues who are fighting what feels like insurmountable battles, and we're the only person they have in their life they can confide in and count on.

We show up because we're educators.  That's just who we are. And that's what makes us different.

Thank you for showing up for our Webb Family.

Week at a Glance

Monday - Start of National School Lunch Week
RTI Committee Meeting - 3:45pm - Library
Tuesday - Book Discussion - PreK/1st/3rd/5th - pg 88-137
Wednesday - Social Studies Meeting - 3:30pm - Library
Bilingual Vertical Meeting - 3:30pm - TP Room
MAP Informational Meeting - 3:30pm - Central Office
Thursday - Delic on Campus (all grades)
Outdoor Play Day
Techy Tripp Thursday - Library - 3:45pm
Friday - Fire Safety at PE
Prek-2nd Grade Meeting in Gym - 7:35am

Look For....

This past week we were looking for a few particular items. We saw some pure awesomeness!  We did notice though that one thing we need to keep working on is our classroom greeters!  Make sure you review every week who the greeters are, what their jobs are, and that they greet ANY adult who comes in.

This week we'll be looking for group work.  Collaboration.  We know the importance of teacher-led instruction. But this week when we come in for walkthroughs we'll particularly be looking at how much the kids are discussing topics and working together to learn.

Delic On Campus

Remember that Delic is coming back to our campus on Thursday.  Our expectations for this visit were to have student work outside your room, with the TEK and Processing Standard posted, and be ready to discuss your activity and how it aligns.

Outdoor Play Day

Thursday is National Outdoor Play day.  Please plan at least one of your lessons to take place outdoors on Thursday!  We have tons of places around our school outside to teach as well as our outdoor classroom!

Book Discussion

Our book discussion is over pages 88-137 this week.  Please read up and be ready to discuss.

MAP Informational Meeting

The district is hosting a MAP informational meeting.  I know we've already spent a great amount of time discussing the MAP results together as teams.  If you still feel confused or want more information that meeting will take place Wednesday at 3:30pm at Central Office.

Veritcal Meetings

We also have 2 vertical meetings this week since last week's had to be cancelled.  If you're on the SS Vertical Team you'll meet with Ms Short in the Library.  If you're on the Bilingual Vertical meeting you'll meet with Ms. Argueta in the TP Room.

Techy Tripp Thursday

This Thursday we will have our FIRST "Techy Tripp Thursday"!!  Ms. Tripp will be sharing about different tech tools all year. And since MANY of your T-TESS Goals align with this, this will be a great opportunity for you.

These meetings will be only 15-20 min in length.  There'll be snacks.  And for every meeting you attend you could earn a sonic drink, jeans pass, or more!  So don't miss it this Thursday!

Her topic this week is QR Codes and Shortened Links.

Twitter

Thank you sooooo much to all who were constantly sharing on Twitter this week.  It was AMAZING to see all the greatness being shared on the #WebbElem hashtag!! Our goal now is to keep that up every week!! I'll be giving out Twitter prizes every week!

This week our winners were: Kelsey Kuehler, TJ Longabaugh, Sandra Smith, Cariann Zeitman, and Ivonne Garcia!  Who will our winners be next week???  ****winners from this week come see me about your prize!

Didn't tweet this week?? No worries! You can this next week! Set reminders! I'm here to help!!

Birthdays

October 8 - Sherri Desern
October 10 - Anna Wilkerson
October 11 - Dorton Matthews

Ron Clark Academy

Remember if you're interested in attending RCA in either December or April, the application is HERE.  Applications due the week before Thanksgiving Break!

TP Time

This week in TP Time we will be discussing the one new way you used TEKS Resource last week and we'll be talking all things Rattler Time!  Come prepared to share your own Rattler Time ideas too!!

Morning Car Rider Duty

This week our morning car rider line duty (on your assigned TP day) is..

Monday - Kinder
Tuesday - 3rd Grade
Wednesday - Kinder
Thursday - Third
Friday - PreK

Kids Deserve It

If you were wanting a Kids Deserve It t-shirt or hoodie or long sleeve, they're up for sale through this next week!  Get yours today HERE!! And here is this week's KDI Show featuring a teacher who has been on the Ellen Degeneres Show!


Blogs/Articles






In Closing...

It is so important that we find ways to celebrate every child (and adult) for the beauty the bring.  For their genius and their gifts.  Often times we're so hyper-focused on the shortcomings that we miss the amazing unique brilliance they bring.  One of my best friends is a principal who has cerebral palsy.  To see what he has accomplished and continues to accomplish inspires me every day.  Here is a great video that was shared with me that is sure to uplift, encourage, and inspire. 



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Sunday, October 1, 2017

Energy

Energy.  We talk often about engaging lessons, keeping students engaged, and so on and so on.  Sometimes though we forget that OUR energy is often what drives the mood of the space we're in.

In the past week I've been reminded of that.  I've been reminded how quickly a meeting can become uncomfortable or drag on because of the energy of one person in the room.  I've seen classrooms where they kids were on the edge of their seats because they couldn't wait to hear what they next word would be out of their teacher's mouth, who was dressed up in a costume, and standing on a chair.  And I could give countless other examples.

Our energy is what the kids need.  I know that every one of us is fighting battles.  Some of which feel like they're suffocating us.  But we have to remember to leave our own issues in the car when those little faces walk into this building, so that we can be our best for them. We can't let our luggage drag down their energy.

Let's find new and creative ways to bring the energy this week!

Week at A Glance

Monday - Custodian Appreciation Day
Study Island Help Session - 3:45pm Library
Tuesday - Nesloney out from 9:00-10:30 for Principal Meeting
Book Discussion for K/2/4/Others - 3:30pm - Library
Wednesday - Student Council Elections for 5th Grade
Social Studies Vertical - 3:30pm - Library
Family Engagement Meeting - 4:00pm - Library
Thursday - Allison Thomas Wedding Shower - 3:45pm - Library
Goat Yoga - 4:30pm - Playground
Friday - Last Day for Progress Report 2
Saturday - TCCA

Look For....

Each week we want to provide you with something particular we're going to be looking for in Walk-Throughs.  This week as we do walkthroughs we are going to be looking for two things.  We are going to be looking for kids tracking whoever is speaking (and you correcting them if they're not) and we're going to be looking for student participation in the lesson (are they being asked questions, are they standing to answer in a complete sentence, are you bringing the MAGIC).

Study Island Help Session

I will be leading a Study Island Help Session at 3:45pm on Monday in the Library for anyone interested. I'll be going over some basics of Study Island and answering any questions I can from when I used it in the classroom.  This is completely optional.

Book Discussion

This week our Kinder, 2nd, 4th, and other area teachers will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss pages 44-87.  Please make sure you've read these and are ready to discuss.

Thursday

Thursday at 3:45pm we will be celebrating Allison Thomas' Wedding in the library.  Then at 4:30pm we will be having our staff Goat Yoga.  This can be paid the day of with cash, check, or credit card as well.  Please let Jennifer Short know if you are going.  All the admin will be there and we think this will be a fun and new way to bond and let off some steam.  You do NOT have to have any yoga experience. I'm just going to play with baby goats! haha

Progress Report 2

Please make sure you have grades ready for Progress Reports 2 which will go out next week.

Saturday

Saturday is TCCA.  This is an annual FREE conference that is FANTASTIC.  Please plan to attend if you can, I will be there too and would love to see you there! Lunch is included! But you need to go register on their website.

T-TESS

T-TESS Goal Meetings have started! Please get with your evaluator to schedule. I've already heard from many of my mine, but quite a few still haven't scheduled a time and my schedule is filling up VERY quickly!

House Games

A BIG shout out to Bradford, Neutzler, and Worrall who organized this past month's house games.  That is no small undertaking and they did a great job!  And congrats to purple house for being our September month winners!

Friday

This Friday during PLC time, all teachers will need to be in cafeteria.  We will split students by houses and have a house meeting.  To be discussed there will be a new house cheer, how can we support other teams, what can we do as a house to make our mark this year?  Your House Leaders will lead those meetings.

Ron Clark Academy

I've budgeted this year to take TWO trips to RCA!!!  Visiting RCA is unlike anything I've ever been to and forever changed the way I taught.  We will be taking 3 teachers (and an admin) Nov 30-Dec 2 and another 3 teachers (and an admin) April 19-21st.  More information is coming!

Twitter

This week I'm going to be giving out some Twitter awards.  What is that?  I will be stalking Twitter and seeing what staff are tweeting AND using the hashtag #WebbElem.  I love when our school story gets shared on social media.  Awards will be given out on Friday and will range from a Jeans Day Pass, to Free Lunch, to Sonic Drink, to your favorite snack, to a 30 min extended lunch, to a 30 min extended conference time!  The more you tweet, the more you can win!  If you need any Twitter 101 help, come see me!!!

TP Time

This week's TP Time will focus on TEKS Resource.  Bring your laptop and make sure you've done your homework from last week (attempted one Lead4ward Instructional Strategies Playlist item and utilized on Lead4Ward resource in a new way).

Morning Car Duty

This week for morning car duty (only on your assigned TP day) is

Monday - 2nd Grade
Tuesday - 5th Grade
Wednesday - 2nd Grade
Thursday - 5th Grade

Kids Deserve It

Episode 88 of Kids Deserve It with Don Wettrick


Blogs/Articles






In Closing...

When we face battles, often times we're convinced we have to face them alone.  And when we face them alone we can quickly fall into darkness and despair.  Something that isn't often discussed enough is the realness of suicide.  Every 40 seconds a life is lost due to suicide.  Take the time this week to reach out to those around you.  Ask them how they're really doing and take time to listen.  And if you're struggling, know that there are so many opportunities to seek help and know that you are appreciated, cared about, and needed.  That you are worthy.  I saw this video this week and thought it was an important piece to share. It's 4 people who are sharing a letter to the person they lost after that person committed suicide.  Together we can make it through.   



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